Tiffany the Belgian shepherd cross gets into the Christmas spirit.
By Shaun Inguanzo
A KEYSBOROUGH animal shelter has found a purr-fect way to celebrate Christmas with the community while raising vital funds for its operations.
The Australian Animal Protection Society shelter in Keysborough will hold its annual open day and Christmas celebration on Sunday, 26 November at its premises in Homeleigh Road, Keysborough.
The shelter receives no government subsidies and must raise its own funds through a network of opportunity shops based around Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.
Keysborough op shop volunteer Judy Paul said the open day and Christmas celebration would include a plethora of exciting stalls, a sausage sizzle, Devonshire teas, cakes, books and even an auction.
Ms Paul has organised for companies such as Cadbury-Schweppes and the Collingwood Football Club to donate items to be auctioned on the day, with proceeds going to the shelter’s operation.
“Hopefully people will come in and look around and adopt a few dogs and cats,” she said.
“But hopefully they also have a look at the stalls and participate in the auctions.”
The dogs and cats at the shelter will receive a blessing, Ms Paul said, as part of the Christmas festivities.
“The reverend comes gives a little spiel about how they are God’s creatures, then he goes around and blesses the pets,” she said.
To coincide with the open day, Ms Paul said the Homeleigh Road op shop would be having a three-day, half-price sale on all items between 24 and 26 November.
